Cop at Ramtek kills self

Cop at Ramtek kills self
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MARCH 1: Twenty-four hours after an under-secretary with the governor's office stabbed himself to death, a police constable on guard duty at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal commited suicide today.

Balchandra Ghadge (27) shot himself with his service rifle on the lawns of Bhujbal's official residence, Ramtek, at Malabar Hill at 10.40 am today. He was rushed to the nearby St Elizabeth nursing home but was declared dead before admission.

The bullet had pierced his chest exited from the lower rib and death appears to have been instantaneous. The impact of the shot was so powerful that Ghadge must have been flung to the ground as soon as he pulled the trigger.

The constable, who resided at Sector 10 at Nerul in Navi Mumbai, was affectionately called `Daji'. He was attached to the Local Arms Constabulary at Naigaon and had been deployed at various sensitive locations in the city.

Police say he is suspected to have had personal problems and heavy debts to repay. He also had a history of illness and was being treated at various government hospitals. Now, doctors are trying to ascertain whether he had ever been referred for psychiatric treatment.